Having a vitamin D deficiency has always been part of my life. But it was not until very recently – after the TikTok debate over this combination went viral, that did I my research about it.
One user claimed that taking a combination of vitamin D and magnesium really helped with their anxiety. Now while most women tend to benefit from both (myself included), it should only be done with a prescription and not because you really relate to the influencer who shared this ‘lifestyle self-care’ hack with you.
Should I Be Taking Vitamin D + Magnesium Together?
Vitamin D and magnesium are both complimentary and pretty imperative for your health. The most important thing to note is that your body cannot metabolise Vitamin D without the right levels of magnesium (which means taking just Vitamin D may not fix your deficiency).
Alternatively, the TikTok trend that claimed you HAVE to take both together was a mere exaggeration, like most things you see on social media. While taking these supplements, it’s actually super important to be careful of your dosage since excess Vitamin D can deplete magnesium and make your pre-existing deficiency worse.
When Should I Be Taking Both?
The body needs adequate amounts of both to function since Vitamin D helps the muscles and nerve functions, supports the immune system, and protects bone health. While magnesium has a lot of similar functions – it controls blood sugar, and blood pressure and helps support heart, muscle, and nerve function.
A lack of Vitamin D can lead to ailments such as bone pain, muscle weakness, and irregular mood changes. A magnesium deficiency might result in fatigue, irregular heartbeat, mood swings, and muscle cramps.
Additionally, Vitamin D helps with skin repair and dry skin, improves skin disorders like eczema or psoriasis and also significantly boosts the elasticity of your skin and promotes collagen production. Magnesium also has a bunch of benefits for your skin like reducing inflammation, blood circulation, and improving hair growth as well as texture and shine. So all those early signs of ageing could be due to this deficiency.
So if you’ve not been sleeping well, feeling inexplicably tired and anxious, or dealing with random mood swings as well as loss of hair, and inflammation – you might just have this deficiency. Around 88% of all Indian women deal with a Vitamin D deficiency while 43% have a magnesium deficiency.
What Can I Do If I Have This Deficiency?
Now most Vitamin D and magnesium supplements are sold over the counter, and while you probably won’t die if you take them together, please consult a professional. If you’ve already been diagnosed, here are three supplements to stay healthy.
The Himalayan Organics Calcium Magnesium Zinc Vitamin D3 & B12 is a good, safe choice that works to make sure both your needs are met. Vitamin D3 is the natural vitamin that your body produces when it’s exposed to sunlight and is most effective in raising and maintaining Vitamin D levels in your body.
The Nutrition Planet Calcium and Magnesium with Vitamin D3 is another OTC supplement that helps with bone strength. It contains Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Vitamin K1, and Vitamin B6.
The last one is the HealthKart HK Vitals Calcium with Mag Zinc & Vit D3 which boosts energy and improves bone health – a good thing to add to your routine if you’ve just started a workout.
Next time, before you hop on the next wellness trend, take a pause, do your research, and when in doubt, always consult with a healthcare professional. I know I will!
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